Male hair loss is a common problem. By the age of 70, 80% of men will have moderate to extensive hair loss [1-2]. This can have a serious impact on your confidence and self-image.
While there’s no cure for baldness, there are several hair loss treatments for men that are proven to slow hair shedding and even reverse the process, helping your hair grow back.
If you’re serious about tackling hair loss, your first line of defence should be non-surgical treatment. As a last resort, hair transplant surgery is a proven and effective solution.
The Wimpole Clinic has treated thousands of men suffering from hair loss for nearly 50 years, picking up the best hair transplant clinic award three years running, from 2020 to 2023.
In this article, we share our experience with every male hair loss treatment that works. We’ll explore the effectiveness, safety, and side effects of each treatment type, and give you tips on how to choose the best male hair loss treatment for you. For a free consultation, our patient advisors are on-hand. Book an in-person or video consultation to get started.
What is male hair loss?
Male hair loss is a common condition that affects most men at some point in their lives. Most hair loss affects the scalp, but some men will also see beard hair loss and alopecia on other parts of the body.
While hair loss isn’t usually a cause for concern, it can impact your confidence and self-esteem. So if your thinning hair is getting you down, it’s a good idea to find a treatment sooner rather than later. This can preserve your existing hair and minimise the need for more invasive treatments further down the line.
What causes hair loss in men?
Each male hair loss treatment is formulated to tackle a specific type of hair loss. So before you find a treatment, you need to establish the cause.
Male pattern baldness is by far the biggest cause of hair loss in men [3]. It’s driven by a combination of genetics, hormones, and age. Some men are affected as early as adolescence, while others won’t lose hair from the condition until their 50s or 60s.
Male pattern baldness is measured using the Norwood Scale. This helps you understand how much hair loss you’ve lost, and how many hair grafts you might need.
- Alopecia areata — an autoimmune condition in which white blood cells attack the hair follicles, causing round patches of hair loss.
- Telogen effluvium — reversible diffuse hair loss triggered by stress, trauma, or another emotional event.
- Traction alopecia — hair loss caused by tight hairstyles worn over a long period of time.
- Scarring alopecia — a group of conditions that cause follicular scar tissue, often leading to irreversible hair loss.
Best non-surgical hair loss treatment for men
These non-surgical hair restoration treatments have been used effectively by the Wimpole Clinic for many years. Each of them is proven to prevent further hair loss and regrow hair for men.
Finasteride
Finasteride is the most commonly used non-surgical treatment for male pattern hair loss [4]. It works by blocking DHT production, so less of this hormone can bind to receptors in your hair follicles and cause them to shrink.
One study found that Finasteride stopped hair loss in 70% of men with temple hair loss, and 83% of men with crown hair loss. Over 5 years, 90% maintained or improved their hair growth by taking Finasteride every day [5].
Finasteride is generally safe to use. However, a small proportion of Finasteride users experience side effects including erectile dysfunction and decreased sex drive.
Finasteride effectiveness study
- 1,879 men participated in three studies, each of which was designed to establish the effectiveness of Finasteride for men with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss [5].
- Two studies included mostly men with crown hair loss, while the other mainly included men with frontal hair loss.
- In all studies, participants took 1mg Finasteride (or a placebo) once a day. Crown hair loss patients took this over two years, while the frontal hair loss study was conducted over one year.
- Researchers found no further hair loss in 83% of Finasteride-treated crown hair loss patients, and a 61% chance of visible hair regrowth after two years.
- In the frontal hair loss study, researchers observed no further hair loss in 70% of participants, with a 37% chance of visible hair regrowth after a year.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is a versatile treatment for hair loss. It’s been shown to stimulate hair growth in male patients with several hair loss conditions, including androgenetic alopecia (pattern baldness), alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium, as well as some scarring alopecias [6].
Minoxidil doesn’t have many serious side effects. Itchiness, dry skin, and headaches are among the most common side effects reported by patients [6].
Minoxidil effectiveness study
- In a one-year observational study of 984 men with male androgenetic alopecia, researchers analysed the effectiveness of 5% topical Minoxidil solution for stopping hair loss and stimulating hair growth. [7]
- Patients applied 1 ml of a 5% Minoxidil solution twice a day to balding areas of the scalp.
- Researchers found hair loss areas of the scalp had become smaller in 62% of patients, and unchanged in 35.1%.
- Overall, they reported 5% Minoxidil to be very effective in 15.9% of patients, effective in 47.8%, and moderately effective in 20.6%.
Low-level laser therapy
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is an alternative hair loss treatment that uses light lasers to stimulate cellular activity and increase blood flow to the hair follicles. Red light therapy for hair growth is a common type of LLLT.
It’s effective for most forms of non-scarring hair loss, including male pattern hair loss. Combining laser regrowth therapy with Finasteride or Minoxidil can improve results even further [8].
LLLT may cause mild scalp irritation, but it hasn’t been linked with any long-term side effects.
PRP therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves extracting and concentrating platelets in a small amount of your blood. These platelets are then injected into the site of your hair loss, helping to stimulate hair growth.
PRP hair treatments have shown promising results for lots of male hair loss conditions, including beard alopecia and male pattern hair loss [9-10]. Find out more about the success rates of PRP hair treatments.
Some patients feel mild discomfort at the injection site, as well as swelling and a sore scalp.
Surgical hair loss treatments for men
Hair transplants are the most effective way to permanently restore hair lost to male pattern baldness. With a 97-100% success rate at the Wimpole Clinic, this popular procedure is one of the best hair loss treatments for men.
However, hair transplant surgery should also be a last resort. While a hair transplant procedure can permanently restore transplanted hair, you can still lose native hair if you’re not taking steps to reduce hair loss.
Continuing hair loss can ultimately lead to you needing a second hair transplant down the road, which might not be possible if you don’t have enough hair left in your donor area. So it’s important to use a combination of non-surgical and surgical male hair loss treatments.
A male pattern baldness patient before and after a hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic.
Hair transplants are more affordable than you might think. On average, a UK hair transplant costs £4,820. So while it’s the most expensive hair loss treatment for men, it’s also the most permanent solution — and you don’t need to pay tens of thousands to get a great result.
Hair transplants at a glance
- Transplant types: The two modern hair transplant techniques are FUE and FUT.
- What’s the difference? FUE leaves virtually zero scarring in your donor area and has a faster recovery time than FUT, but usually costs more. Both offer similar results and success rates.
- How it works: Your surgeon extracts grafts from your donor area and implants them in areas where you’ve lost hair.
- Procedure time: Around 4-8 hours
- Recovery time: Up to a week
- Results timeline: Around 6-12 months
- Are they safe? Yes, hair transplants are very safe when performed by a qualified surgeon in a clean environment, but some overseas clinics fall short of these requirements.
- Side effects: Hair transplant side effects include swelling, soreness, bleeding, and scabbing. With the right aftercare, these subside within a few days.
- Choosing a clinic: Hair transplant costs can be an indicator of procedure quality, so get several quotes before choosing your hair transplant clinic.
Speak to the Wimpole Clinic team to discover if a hair transplant is the best male hair loss treatment for you. We can diagnose your hair loss and create a bespoke treatment plan that incorporates both non-surgical and surgical procedures to treat hair loss and kickstart your hair regrowth.
Natural hair loss treatment for men
If your hair loss is still very mild, you might want to try a natural or home hair loss remedy. Some natural hair loss remedies do work, although they might not be the ones you expect.
Taking vitamins for hair growth probably won’t work. The supplements industry is largely unregulated, which means there are a lot of bold but unsubstantiated claims about their effectiveness. Our exclusive research review found that most vitamin supplements only help hair growth if you have a clinical deficiency.
So which natural hair loss treatments for men do work? Here are a few hair growth essential oils that have been scientifically proven to reduce hair loss in men:
- Black seed oil — Multiple studies have shown that black seed oil for hair growth can reduce hair fall in telogen effluvium patients [11-13].
- Pumpkin seed oil — This oil contains an amino acid called cucurbitin, which may help block DHT, the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness [14].
- Rosemary oil — Rosemary oil can reduce hair loss in men with male pattern baldness if used daily over a six month period [15]. Find out how long to leave rosemary oil in your hair.
Applying essential oils for hair growth
Essential oils are highly concentrated, so they shouldn’t be directly applied to your skin.
Instead, mix your chosen essential oil with a carrier oil like jojoba, almond, or olive oil.
Essential oils can irritate your scalp, so perform a patch test and wait 24 hours to see if you have any side effects before applying more.
Home hair loss treatments for men
If essential oils aren’t your thing, there are other home hair loss treatments you can try. Each of these treatments and lifestyle changes help to promote hair growth if your hair is mild and not progressing rapidly.
Switch to caffeine shampoo
Topical caffeine solutions and caffeine shampoos can stimulate hair growth in patients with male pattern baldness, as well as other groups [16-17]. So switching to a caffeine shampoo may help reduce excessive hair shedding.
Leave caffeine shampoo on your scalp for at least two minutes before rinsing.
If you are interested in other shampoos that will aid in hair growth, check out our list of the best hair loss shampoos that work for men.
Lifestyle changes to treat male hair loss
If you’re worried about hair thinning, you may be able to make some lifestyle changes to preserve your hair. These should always be considered, even if you decide to opt for non-surgical and/or surgical hair loss treatments.
Quit smoking
A 2020 study found 85% of smokers had symptoms of male pattern baldness, compared with just 40% of non-smokers [18]. So smoking can more than double your risk of hair loss.
Quitting smoking can increase blood flow to the scalp and reduce oxidative stress, improving your hair health.
Avoid heat styling
Heat styling practices like straightening and curling your hair can lead to hair damage and breakage. This won’t cause hair loss directly, but it will compromise the hair you do have, making it look thinner and less healthy.
What’s the best treatment for men’s hair loss?
Hair transplants are the best permanent hair loss treatment for men. But they shouldn’t always be the first port of call. For men with early-stage hair loss, it’s best to maintain your existing hair using a non-surgical treatment, at least at first.
If you meet any of the following criteria, a hair transplant is worth considering:
- Your hair loss is at or approaching Norwood stages 3-7.
- You haven’t seen the results you want from non-surgical hair loss treatments.
- You’ve discussed non-surgical options and decided against them.
- You need to fix a previous failed hair transplant.
To find out more about getting a hair transplant in London, book a free consultation with the Wimpole Clinic.
- Prevalence of male pattern hair loss in 18-49 year old men
- Androgenetic Alopecia | NLM
- An Overview of Alopecias
- ISHRS Practice Census 2022
- Use of Finasteride in the Treatment of Men With Androgenetic Alopecia (Male Pattern Hair Loss)
- Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: a review
- Effectiveness of 5% Minoxidil in treating male pattern hair loss
- Role of Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) in Androgenetic Alopecia
- Successful Treatment of Alopecia Areata Barbae with Platelet-rich Plasma
- The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Hair Regrowth: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Formulation and Finding Out the Efficacy of the Herbal Hair Oil Over Simple Coconut Oil (Purified) – A Formulation and Clinical Study in Bangladesh
- Evaluation of a Therapeutic Alternative for Telogen Effluvium: A Pilot Study
- Development and Evaluation of Herbal Hair Serum: A traditional way to Improve Hair Quality
- Effect of Pumpkin Seed Oil on Hair Growth in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a randomized comparative trial
- An Open-Label Randomized Multicenter Study Assessing the Noninferiority of a Caffeine-Based Topical Liquid 0.2% versus Minoxidil 5% Solution in Male Androgenetic Alopecia
- Caffeine and Its Pharmacological Benefits in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review
- Implications of cigarette smoking on early-onset androgenetic alopecia: A cross-sectional study
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